Anderson, Fisher Headed For MLB Draft

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As the Arkansas season came to an end, the questions of who would make the jump to Major League Baseball immediately arose.

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn answered those questions in his year end press conference on Wednesday.

Junior Brian Anderson is the highest rated prospect on the Arkansas roster after batting .328 on the season, leading the team, while driving in 51 runs and had 24 extra base hits.

“He has all the tools scouts are looking for,” Van Horn said. “He’s hard on himself but he could go high in draft.”

Arkansas had 11 players drafted last season, the most among any college.

Eric Fisher also projects to be selected in this weekend’s draft after leading the Razorbacks with nine home runs and driving in 45 runs. The first baseman hit .268 for the year.

A pair of Arkansas pitchers could hear their names called as well this weekend. Juniors Chris Oliver and Jalen Beeks led Arkansas in wins and anchored a rotation along with sophomore Trey Killian.

Beeks finished with a 1.98 ERA and picked up six wins after throwing 81 2/3 innings while striking out 68.

Oliver led the Razorbacks with a 9-4 record and posted a 2.51 ERA in 93 1/3 innings of work while striking out 59. Oliver’s stock could take a hit after being arrested for suspicion of DWI earlier this week, but coach Van Horn doesn’t think that will happen.

“He’ll still be drafted in the same area I would think,” Van Horn said. “Everybody makes a mistake and I’m sure that’s the way Major League Baseball will look at it. They know he doesn’t have issues. They know he just made a mistake.”

Van Horn added that losing relief pitcher Michael Gunn is a realistic possibility with Jacob Stone could return for his senior season.

Gunn, a junior left-hander, had a 0.74 ERA in 36 2/3 innings this season while striking out 35 and walked 16. Stone posted a 0.94 ERA in 24 relief appearances while striking out 31.

Van Horn added that redshirt sophomore Tyler Spoon will not play baseball this summer to nurse a wrist injury and looks like the Van Buren native will come back for his junior season. Spoon’s numbers slide after a standout freshman season, hitting .256 with 37 RBI and 17 extra base hits in the 2014 season.

“He didn’t have the year he thought he was going to have,” Van Horn said. “We’ve talked about coming back and having a big year next year.”

Junior Joe Serrano is also a player that could return for his senior season for the Hogs. The outfielder was second on the team with a .289 average and drove in 22 runs. Van Horn said it’s possible for Serrano’s return if he is not selected this weekend.